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Don’t get me wrong. It a beautiful idea. However, in the real world application all that ends up happening is violent theft from the achievers and amplification of the worst traits of the underachievers. I consider myself a refugee from an equity system. I escaped California because I was tired of paying 30% to the state. 30% of a substantial income I worked my fingers to the bone for 25 years to develop and I couldn’t go the the beach because it was packed with aggressive panhandlers.

A statistic that quickly got buried was a study done a couple years ago which discovered 80% of the homeless in Southern California were intentionally homeless! The attitude was “The government takes care of my basic needs. Food stamps, medical, etc. Why would I go to work when I can sit on the beach and be high all day.”

IDK, maybe someday humanity will evolve to a point where the practical application of an equity system will work. But human nature can not be legislated. It’s kind of like communism. Communism is a beautiful idea. Communism works well in small applications such as a kibbutz or an intentional community. I know because I lived in an intentional community and remember it fondly. But when communism is applied to a nation state the greedy and power hungry rise to the top and the lazy leach off the working class.

I used to think like you. I donated my time working with homeless veterans. I voted to raise my own taxes so the homeless could be housed and the poor could have medical care. It’s partially my fault California is in its sad condition. When I admitted my mistakes on this matter I was shouted down and called the most vile names.

At the end of the day, after all of my experiences I have come to the conclusion that freedom is the only way. Freedom in the form of the smallest possible government and lowest possible taxes. There are many ways one can support a community without being directed to by government. After all, isn’t the desire to control others actions unethical?

BTW, thank you for the intelligent debate. Its refreshing to disagree with someone and not have it devolve into an argument or name calling.

nobody 2y ago

Thanks for your kind words; and for sharing your experience and perspective. 🙏🏽

While my original post was about user experience design, I am also glad to have a conversation on a point it touched which also applies to human societies.

I get your point about people being intentionally reliant on government because they don’t want to pull their weight contributing meaningfully to the society; and this example from your country/city is enough to make one somewhat cynical about society. I know because I live in a developing country and have experienced inequity firsthand—what with public and civil servants looting taxpayer money and other resources, while honest citizens are struggling, living paycheque to paycheque for those who are employed.

However, I still believe that fair must be fair and where/when it is in my hands I make a conscious effort to entrench equity.

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Discussion

Keith 2y ago

I took a look at your profile and I think you are from Nigeria? Your English was so good in your original post I assumed you were a native speaker and from the U.S. I have some dear friends/neighbors that are Nigerian immigrants to the U.S. The corruption you speak of in your country has been explained to me in detail with various examples.

Creating equity for the people in your life is an example of well developed personal ethics. However, when it is mandated by a bloated bureaucracy of a government like we have here it’s just a way for government officials and civil servants to grift the taxpayers by laundering money to political donors. We have the same, if not worse corruption in our government. However, here laws have been passed to give the appearance of legality.

Believe me when I tell you that the answer is not more laws or bigger government, but rather an adoption of the Non-aggression principle, passing along good values to our children and being a strong member of your community.

A story I enjoy telling is how I became friends with the neighbors mentioned above. The wife was living on her own while her husband was in Nigeria. We live in dense, urban condominiums and we had seen each other several times, said good morning to each other as we passed on the sidewalk, but no meaningful conversations. One day, she knocked at my door with her new baby in one arm, and a bag of groceries in the other. She said. “ Can you please watch my baby for 10 minutes. I just need to bring groceries in and put them away. I’ve seen you with your kids and I think you might be a good person.” I was happy to oblige. I’m a white man in the United States, and I helped a black immigrant. But that’s not why I helped. The color of her skin, or her immigration status didn’t matter. I helped because a member of my community needed assistance. Also, I love babies. As a father of four I miss having babies around. I recommend reading Adam Smith’s “the wealth of nations. “ Which postulates that most human actions are derived from self interest. In this example, I had the opportunity to strengthen my community and spend time doing something I enjoy. Actions taken purely out of self interest, but with the side effect of equity and equality.

I think my point is, don’t depend on government to enforce rules that mandate equity. That only results in legalized corruption. But, rather live your life, with your own self interest in mind, in being a good moral person, equity and equality will naturally happen.

nobody 2y ago

👏🏽

Good points here. Thanks for the book recommendation. I’m familiar with Adam Smith’s ‘The Wealth of Nations’ from secondary school economics. You’re right on the money about how your self-interest helped strengthen your community and how we can pass this attitude on by imbuing our kids with them; and how we do not need more laws or a bloated bureaucracy to entrench/enforce equity.

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts.